Wind turbine generator and yaw control method for wind turbine generator

Abstract

A wind turbine generator, which is a wind turbine generator that turns a nacelle in the yaw direction by using the force that acts on turbine blades, includes a yaw brake device that stops the turning of the nacelle in the yaw direction and a control device that controls the yaw brake device so that the turning speed of the nacelle falls within a predetermined range. Therefore, the wind turbine generator can make the turning speed of the nacelle constant.

1 . A wind turbine generator that turns a nacelle in a yaw direction by using force that acts on wind turbine blades, the wind turbine generator comprising:
 a braking unit for braking the turning of the nacelle in the yaw direction;   a measuring unit for measuring turning speed of the nacelle in the yaw direction; and   a controlling unit for controlling the braking unit so that the measured turning speed of the nacelle falls within a predetermined range,   wherein the controlling unit generates a control command value for the braking unit on a basis of a difference between the measured turning speed and turning speed set in advance in the predetermined range so that the measured turning speed of the nacelle in the yaw direction falls within the predetermined range.   
     
     
         2 . A wind turbine generator according to  claim 1 , wherein the braking unit includes a plate-like brake disk and a plurality of brake pads that are pressed into contact with the brake disk, and in which at least one of a pressure that the brake pads apply to the brake disk and the number of brake pads to be pressed into contact with the brake disk is controlled so that the turning speed falls within the predetermined range. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A wind turbine generator according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined range for the turning speed is from 0.25 degrees/second to 0.30 degrees/second. 
     
     
         5 . A yaw control method for a wind turbine generator that turns a nacelle in a yaw direction by using force that acts on turbine blades and that is provided with a braking unit that brakes the turning of the nacelle in the yaw direction, comprising:
 measuring turning speed of the nacelle in the yaw direction;   controlling the braking unit on a basis of a difference between the measured turning speed and turning speed set in advance in a predetermined range so that the measured turning speed of the nacelle in the yaw direction falls within the predetermined range.